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Natcore awarded use of government solar patents Company will be allowed to commercialize patented technology for renewable energy
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I’m pretty bullish on solar. It’s not because I’m an environmentalist, although the idea of sustainable energy is a laudable one.
My interest is prompted by the significant technological advances made in the last few years, including a number of patents issued to Rochester-based companies in the solar energy field.
They’ve helped to both increase the efficiency of solar cells and dramatically reduce the cost. All indications are that this trend will continue, and that we’re getting closer to making solar power a viable choice for homeowners.
There are about a dozen solar energy companies based in Rochester, driven in part by our strong background in optics: Reflexite Energy Solutions makes solar lens components. SPX Thermal Product Solutions makes crystal growing furnaces, used to produce photovoltaic wafers. Solar Sentry developed a system to monitor solar arrays.
One of the newest faces on the scene is Natcore Technology, a New Jersey-based company that opened a research and development laboratory at Eastman Business Park in March. The technology they’re working on could be a game-changer.
Last week, the company announced it had licensed patents from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development.
The NREL patents cover a material called “black silicon.” A silicon wafer is etched to create nano-scale pores, increasing the surface area exposed to sunlight. It’s not really black, but appears that way due to the absence of reflected light. A panel made from black silicon solar cells will produce a significantly greater amount of energy, and will perform better during the morning and afternoon hours when the sun is at a lower angle.
In addition to generating more energy, the black silicon solar cells are less expensive to produce. In a press release announcing the patent licensing agreement, CEO Chuck Provini was optimistic about the impact of the technology. “This could be another step toward our goal of halving the cost and doubling the output of solar cells,” he said.
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120816/BUSINESS0110/308160003/sean-lahman-natcore?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|p&nclick_check=1
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Re: Natcore awarded use of government solar patent ...
Lloyd, thanks for the reply.
On the Natcore website there is a list of other Applications for those who are interested:
http://www.natcoresolar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=54
Here are some of them:
Overview: The Game Is Changing
The fundamental nature of Natcore's technology also enables a wide range of commercial applications beyond the field of solar energy, and Natcore controls intellectual property with important potential applications in many industries outside the solar realm. Essentially, any product or process that utilizes thin films of silicon dioxide or mixed silicon oxides could benefit from our technology. A list of relevant industries includes:
Optics: Optical detectors and components; optoelectronics (passive and active devices); high-resolution optical detectors; artificial retina implants; waveguides, including waveguide cladding and other passive components for the all-optical internet (e.g., fiber-to-the home telecommunications systems); protective coatings for plastic lenses of all sorts, from prescription eyeglasses to over-the-counter sunglasses and reading glasses.
Green Technology and Energy: Air and water quality monitoring; fuel cell membranes; environmental remediation and supercapacitors
Medical: chemical sensors ; nanocloth lightweight cloth radiation shielding; biochemical sensors; microarrays for DNA sequencing; point of care "lab on a chip"; pharmaceutical applications (i.e., photodynamic therapy, anticoagulating agents, atherosclerosis/ arteriosclerosis diagnosis and treatment, cancer treatments, blood disorder diagnosis)
Electronics: Microwave absorbers; semiconductor devices' composite "smart materials;" supercapacitors; MEMs (micro electromechanical systems); internal oxide layers for silicon semiconductor devices (i.e., computer chips)
Science and Research: Photon sensors; chemical sensors; carbon nanotube (CNT)-sized dielectric objects; composite materials and structures
Hardware/Utility: Corrosion protection; cladding for both large- and small-scale metallic surfaces (e.g., metal liners for hot water heaters, copper traces to turn circuit boards into easily patterned optical waveguides); protective coatings for light emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit red, yellow and especially white light. (These devices will eventually replace the incandescent light bulb in automobiles and homes and represent a huge consumer market.) Also films to control the emissivity of windows and architectural glass surfaces. (Emissivity control affects the amount of light and heat that can move through a sheet of glass.)
Natcore expects that the potential applications for its LPD technology will continue to branch out as a result of further research and development. Intellectual property and licensing revenues will form a foundation of its business plan.
Natcore's product development focus after silicon solar cell coatings and devices will be on products utilizing silicon substrates in one form or another. At this time, the primary potential opportunities are envisioned in the following areas:
Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) Wafers
Nanocloth X-Ray Shielding Fabric
Optical Components
Re: Natcore awarded use of government solar patent ...
Thanks for the comments Frank.
As you probably know Natcore is one of my pet stocks. I would expect everyone to do their own DD on this stock. I have owned shares of this stock since Pinnacle Digest introduced it 3 years ago and I try to keep everyone up to date on any news that I see out there.
All the best to Pinnacle Digest and their followers.
Re: Natcore awarded use of government solar patent ...
Natcore is a company that investors must have patience with. One news release is not going to send the share price to the moon, but a slow and steady upward movement appears to be in the cards. Investors in the past were hoping for a spectacular breakthrough resulting in an overnight windfall must realize that developing and fine tuning takes time. I predict this will be a future NASDAQ listed company trading at many times today's price but investors must be patient.
Re: Natcore awarded use of government solar patent ...
Don.
What gets me is the number of other patents they hold that have never been commented the past while. Being a technical person I am extremly bullish on the progress they have been making and I see no end in sight at this time. There have been numerious coments from many finanical instutions regarding there shares. We will see some good things, happening next month when the summer holiday are over for a lot of investors.
You take care